Second to God
 

"That's Omma and Appa," she pointed out to the picture on her iPhone.

"This is my sociology teacher, who's secretly in love with my English Lit lecturer," she laughed as she continued her show and tell.

"And that's Amber, my best friend."

He could not help but to smile at her enthusiasm, looking at her sitting comfortably beside him on the sofa.

"I thought I was your best friend."

She stopped at his words and looked at him seriously.

"You are more than that. You are my Ahjussi."

And to her, that name epitomised a being so great that it only came second to God.
 

(flashback)

I'm so hungry, I could die, 10 year old So-Mi whined dramatically to herself.

She was in the bookstore again, both hands in her jacket pocket.

One reason was to show that she was not there to take anything; and secondly, to stop herself from taking something.

I've taken too many chocolates from this kind book store ahjussi. I can't possibly take anymore, she thought.

Then, he came in.

She has seen that man before. Around the neighbourhood.

Always alone. Always quiet. Never smiling.

After buying a newspaper, he left.

And she followed him, or rather her hungry stomach followed the grocery bag that was in his hand.

She hid in the shadows while he went into his apartment.

She sighed at not getting any chance of taking food from the grocery bag.

Then a light came on. The Pawn Shop it said, illuminating a counter with a barred window.

She simply slumped in her corner and fell asleep; until the smell of cooked food woke her.

And her stomach growled.

I'm sorry, Bookstore Ahjussi. Just one more time. I have to take your chocolate one more time.

But as she passed the pawn shop window, she saw a plastic container partly hidden on the counter - a packed lunch of rice, fried chicken and sautéed vegetables.

The quiet man was nowhere in sight.

And like lightening, she took the container and ran.

***

A note awaited for him on the pawn shop counter that afternoon.

"Ahjussi, I'm sorry I stole your food. This is my mp3 player as collateral."

He picked up the note, reading it silently.

Then, he picked the pink Hello Kitty shaped mp3 player left on the counter and kept it in the drawer; and then went back to his kitchen - heading straight for the sink, to wash the plates and bowl he had just used for lunch.

(end of flashback)